Multi-Mode Power Manager For Power Management Integrated Circuit

• US 20130151825A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Active-Semi, Inc. (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huynh, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/08 Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/157 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1588 comprising at least one synchronous rectifier element H02M3/1582, H02M3/1584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33515 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53875 with analogue control of three-phase output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A Multi-Tile Power Management Integrated Circuit (MTPMIC) includes tiles including an MCU/ADC tile and a power manager tile. The power manager tile includes a set of Configurable Switching Power Supply Pulse Width Modulator (CSPSPWM) components. These components, in combination with other circuitry external to the integrated circuit, are configurable to form a selected one of a number of different switching power supply circuits. Upon power up, an internal regulator supplies power to the CSPSPWM. The CSPSPWM then controls the power supply to begin switching in a low frequency start-up mode. The CSPSPWM determines during start-up the current sensing method based on circuitry external to the integrated circuit. A supply voltage generated is then supplied via a conductor of a standardized bus to a processor in the MCU/ADC tile. The processor begins executing instructions, and as a result writes across the standardized bus to configure the various tiles of the MTPMIC.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit comprising:

a first circuit comprising a Configurable Switching Power Supply Pulse Width Modulator (CSPSPWM) operable as a step down converter controller and as a flyback converter controller, a driver output terminal, a driver coupled to receive a driver input signal from the CSPSPWM and coupled to drive a driver output signal onto the driver output terminal, a supply voltage terminal couplable to an error amplifier of the CSPSPWM, and a configuration register, wherein configuration information stored in the configuration register determines a configuration of the CSPSPWM;

a memory; and

a processor adapted to access the memory and to execute instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor is powered substantially entirely by power received from the first circuit as a result of an operation of the CSPSPWM, wherein the processor is configured to write to the configuration register in the first circuit thereby configuring the CSPSPWM.

2. The integrated circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a second circuit that includes a differential amplifier and a configuration register that supplies configuration information to the differential amplifier, wherein an output of the differential amplifier is programmably couplable to supply an analog signal to an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) of the integrated circuit, wherein the first ciruit is a part of a first tile and the second circuit is a part of a second tile, and wherein the processor can write to the configuration register of the second tile across a standardized bus.

3. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSPWM further comprises a current sense mode detect circuit that determines a configuration of current sense circuitry external to the integrated circuit.

4. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit is operable in a start-up mode and in a normal operating mode, wherein during the start-up mode the processor is not fully powered, wherein during the start-up mode the CSPSPWM controls a power supply to switch at a first switching frequency, wherein during normal mode operation the processor is powered substantially entirely by power received from the power supply, and wherein during the normal operating mode the CSPSPWM controls the power supply to switch at a second switching frequency higher than the first switching frequency.

5. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver of the first circuit is configurable to operate in a pulse pull-down mode, and wherein configuration information in the configuration register of the first circuit determines whether the driver operates in the pulse pull-down mode.

6. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the first circuit further comprises a current sense terminal, and wherein the CSPSPWM comprises current sense detect circuitry that detects whether the current sense terminal is coupled in a low-side current sense configuration.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSCPWM is operable in a constant switching frequency and constant pulse width mode, wherein in the constant switching frequency and constant pulse width mode the driver output terminal is driven with pulses of a constant frequency and of a constant pulse width.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the first circuit further comprises a high voltage terminal, wherein the driver is operable to drive the driver output terminal to a high voltage by coupling the driver output terminal to the high voltage terminal.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSCPWM has a programmable switching frequency, and wherein the programmable switching frequency is determined by configuration information stored in the configuration register of the first circuit.

10. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSCPWM comprises a programmable voltage divider, wherein an input of the programmable voltage divider is coupled to the supply voltage terminal, wherein an output of the programmable voltage divider is coupled to the error amplifier of the CSPSPWN, and wherein the programmable voltage divider is controlled by configuration information stored in the configuration register of the first circuit.

11. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSCPWM further comprises a linear regulator circuit, and wherein an input of the linear regulator circuit is coupled to the supply voltage terminal.

12. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSCPWM is configurable to respond to a feedback signal through either an error amplifier or a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) output, wherein the processor is operable to control the DAC by writing a digital value such that the digital value is present on input leads of the DAC.

13. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver output terminal is coupled to a base of an NPN transistor, wherein the NPN transistor is external to the integrated circuit, and wherein the NPN transistor and the CSPSPWM form a step down buck converter.

14. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver output terminal is coupled to a gate of a field effect transistor, wherein the field effect transistor is external to the integrated circuit, and wherein the field effect transistor and the CSPSPWM form a boost converter.

15. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the driver output terminal is coupled to a gate of a field effect transistor, wherein the field effect transistor is external to the integrated circuit, and wherein the field effect transistor and the SCSPSCPWM form a flyback converter.

16. The integrated circuit of claim 1, wherein the CSPSPWM comprises an error amplifier that outputs an error signal onto an error node, wherein the CSPSPWM further comprises a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) that that is controllable by the processor to change a voltage on the error node.

17. A method comprising:

(a) applying power to an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a first circuit and a second circuit, wherein the first circuit comprises a Configurable Switching Power Supply Pulse Width Modulator (CSPSPWM) operable as a step down converter controller and as a flyback converter controller, wherein the CSPSCPWM is operable together with circuitry external to the integrated circuit to form a switching power supply circuit, and wherein the external circuitry comprises a component of the group consisting of;

an inductor and a transformer;

(b) powering up the second circuit using power supplied by the switching power supply circuit, wherein a processor is a part of the second circuit; and

(c) configuring the CSPSPWM by writing configuration information into a configuration register, wherein the configuration register is a part of the first circuit, and wherein the processor writes the configuration information into the configuration register.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

after the applying of power of (a) and before the configuring of the CSPSPWM of (c) the CSPSPWM switches the switching power supply circuit for a first period of time at a fixed frequency and with on pulses of a fixed pulse width, and wherein after the first period of time the CSPSPWM switches the switching power supply circuit at a frequency higher than the fixed frequency and with pulse width modulated on pulses.

19. An integrated circuit comprising:

a processor; and

means for pulse width modulating a switch in a switching power supply circuit and thereby controlling the switching power supply circuit to generate an output supply voltage, wherein the means is operable as a step down converter controller if the switching power supply circuit is a step down converter power supply and wherein the means is operable as a flyback converter controller if the switching power supply circuit is a flyback converter power supply, wherein the switch is external to the integrated circuit, wherein the means is also for supplying power to the processor as a result of a switching of the switching power supply circuit, and wherein the means is also for receiving configuration information written by the processor.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein the means comprises:

a Configurable Switching Power Supply Pulse Width Mmodulator (CSPSPWM); and

linear regulator circuitry that has an input coupled to the CSPSPWM and that has a supply voltage output coupled to the processor.

21. The integrated circuit of claim 19, wherein the means is also for switching the switching power supply circuit in a start-up mode and in a normal operating mode, wherein the switching power supply circuit is switched with on pulses of a fixed pulse width and at a first switching frequency in the start-up mode, wherein the switching power supply circuit is switched with pulse width modulated on pulses and at a second switching frequency in the normal operating mode, and wherein the second switching frequency is higher than the first switching frequency.